Ford V-8’s joined Ford Model A’s for “Fords & Friends”

By John Emmering • Photos by Ken Bounds

Twenty-five years of Ford Automotive history was on display in the St. Charles Culver’s parking lot as our Northern Illinois Region of the Early Ford V-8 Club of America teamed up with the Naper A’s chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America for an event we called “Ford’s and Friends” on the evening of Saturday August 5th. 

While the NIRG has held many similar events dubbed “Duals Night”,  this year it became a joint event including members of the Naper A’s and nine of their cars.  Last fall NIRG members were invited to a turkey dinner by the Illinois Region of the Model A Restorers Club.  Some of our members felt it was a nice gesture and suggested perhaps it would be fun to hold occasional joint activities with fellow collectors of other genres of vintage Ford Motor Company vehicles.  The idea came to fruition as “Fords and Friends” was planned.

Antique Fords began to fill the Culver’s lot beginning about 5:00 pm and soon 17 Ford Motor Company vehicles manufactured from 1929 to 1953 had assembled.  Culver’s patrons were treated to a panorama of Ford Motor Company chronology.  Several customers came out into the lot to admire the assembled automobiles and other passersby pulled in off the highway to get a look.  Participants from both clubs had the opportunity to meet one another and there was some interesting conversation.  Those who brought an appetite had an opportunity to have dinner from Culver’s menu. 

John & Robin Emmering, event sponsors  took the opportunity to drive their 1931 Model A Deluxe Roadster and Ray McMahon  brought his 1930 Deluxe Coupe.  John & Ray are members of both NIRG and Naper A’s.  Arriving in their respective V-8’s were, Ken and Carolyn Bounds, 1950 Ford Crestliner, Tom and Judy Buscaglia, 1951 Ford Custom Tudor, Joe and Nell Kozmic, 1953 Mercury Monterey, Pat and Dee Maroney, 1936 Ford Deluxe Fordor, Joe and Millie Novak, 1953 Mercury Monterey, Roger Obecny, 1940 Ford Deluxe Tudor, Dan and Diane Pudelek, 1950 Ford Crestliner, and Jeff Trilling 1952 Ford F-1 pickup.  John and Este Scheve, and Ron and Coleen Steck arrived in “modern iron”.

As the event concluded, dusk settled in and participants fired up their V-8’s and four bangers for the trip home.  It seemed that members of both the car clubs enjoyed the opportunity to meet other fellow auto hobbyists and to see the cars that represent what went before and for others what came after their individual Ford Motor Company automotive pride and joy.